Tropical forest and Guinea savanna zone of Africa from Upper Guinea to Ethiopia and south to Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Status:

IUCN – Lower Risk (lc) as Sylvisorex megalura.

Comments:

Until recently placed in genus Sylvisorex, but genetic data (Querouil et al., 2001) show that S.megalura is the sister species of the Indian S.dayi. Karyotype (2n = 48, FN = 96) described by Meylan (1975). A common African species of forest edges and forested savannas; range mapped by Hutterer et al. (1987b). Gureev (1979:381) listed sorella as a distinct species without comment. Some geographic variation exists, the Central African forest populations being smallest and darkest. For synonyms see Heim de Balsac and Meester (1977:7-8).